Brits admit 'crucial mistakes' in the shooting of misidentified terror suspect

Damning stuff from ITV.com regarding the shooting death of Brazilian national Jean Charles De Menezes last July:

The crucial mistake that ultimately led to his death was made at 9.30am when Jean Charles left his flat in Scotia Road, South London.

Surveillance officers wrongly believed he could have been Hussain Osman, one of the prime suspects, or another terrorist suspect.

By 10am that morning, elite firearms officers were provided with what they describe as "positive identification" and shot De Menezes eight times in the head and upper body.

The documents and photographs confirm that Jean Charles was not carrying any bags, and was wearing a denim jacket, not a bulky winter coat, as had previously been claimed.

He was behaving normally, and did not vault the barriers, even stopping to pick up a free newspaper.    

He started running when we saw a tube at the platform. Police had agreed they would shoot a suspect if he ran.    

                                                           

This is disturbing, since the reports released by the British authorities immediately after the shooting suggested that the suspect was dressed in a heavy winter coat, and ran when he spotted the police.  My earlier blog posts on this incident are here and here.

In the heat of the moment, when emotions are running high, and authorities are desperate to keep further attacks from happening, mistakes will be made.  In this case, it was a tragic mistake -- and lying about it only makes things worse.  Right now the credibility of British authorities is rapidly approaching zero.

But ultimately, De Menezes' death should be put on the shoulders of the 7/7 terror bombers themselves.  Had they not attacked first, the police would have had no reason to shoot him.

More from Jay Tea at WizBang.  And believe me, he's not happy.